Austrian Artist Joseph Bernhardt Joins Hands with Rajat Synergy Foundation to Protect Sparrows
Varanasi: Sparrows, among the world’s oldest bird species found across nearly all nations, face the threat of extinction today. As we endeavor to safeguard our art, culture, values, and heritage, initiatives are underway to conserve sparrows, integral to our cultural fabric. In May 2023, the Rajat Synergy Foundation pledged to establish natural nests for sparrow conservation. Today, a sense of fulfillment accompanies the foundation’s commitment.
Pragati Pathak, Director of Rajat Synergy Foundation, conveyed these sentiments at the Ram Chhatpar Shilp Nyas (Art Museum) in Samne Ghat. The occasion marked the establishment of natural nests with the foundation’s support and the artistic contribution of Austrian artist Joseph Bernhardt.
Pathak underscored a time when sparrows’ chirping would disrupt our sleep. Once thriving around humans, sparrows now teeter on the brink of extinction, having placed trust in the human community, which now, for its own comfort, has pushed them perilously close to extinction. Failure to act now may consign humanity’s oldest companion to the annals of history, confined only to books, stories, and images.
Joseph Bernhardt, a proactive Austrian artist, recounted his encounter with reports of sparrows’ demise in nature-loving India. Stirred deeply, he utilized red hues in his birdhouse art to awaken public consciousness. Madan Lal Gupta, founder of Ram Chhatpar Shilp Nyas (Art Museum), welcomed national and international artists, highlighting that, alongside art collections, the museum now offers a natural haven for sparrows on the banks of the sacred Ganges.
The Ram Chhatpar Shilp Nyas (Art Museum), situated on the revered Ganges’ banks, stands as Uttar Pradesh’s largest private art museum, offering a holistic art experience that not only soothes the soul but also enriches art’s significance.
Prominent figures such as Rajat Mohan Pathak (Secretary, Rajat Synergy Foundation), along with numerous Indian art enthusiasts and artists from Japan, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy, graced the occasion.
